Apparatus for the manufacture of continuous sheets of glass.



No. 837,212. PATBRTED NOV. 27, 1906.

B. FOURGAULT.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONTINUOUS SHEETS 0F GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.30.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l fiyezz $01. 6 Four tau/Z? "M No. 837,212. PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906. E, FOURGAULT.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CONTINUOUS SHEETS OP GLASS APPLICATION FILED OGT.30.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z UliliTlilD %TATES PAT FFIQE,

EMILE FOURG'AULT, or LODELINSART, BELeiUM. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE or commuous SHEETS 0F cuss.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented novfev. 1906.

Application filed October 30, 1905. Serial No 285.189.

transformed, the repair or transformation cannot be effected without disturbing the working of the melting-hearth. F or preventing this disadvanta 'e and for easily modifying the level of the glass in the little reservoir of the drawing apparatus and for regulating thus the flow of the glass through the slot of the float on the reservoir 1 have constructed the apparatus forming the object of this invention.

Figures 1 and 2 showin section at right angles to each other-a portable apparatus mounted on wheels.

The apparatus communicates with the glass-melting hearth a through a small 0 enmg I), which can be closed and opened y a sliding damper c. A suitable recess or reservoir in apiece of refractory material d receives the molten glass and delivers it in the form of a continuous sheet or late. The said piece of refractory materia cl rests on brackets a above a furnace f, which maintains the glass in the required state of fiuidity. The hot gases from this furnace pass through vertical passages l and heat the side of the said refractory piece it and issue through a series of small holes 2 on each side of the sheet or )late of glass that is bein formed, so that t 0 sheet or plate of glass and the base of the annealing apparatus are heated.

Screw-jacks 9 allow the apparatus to be raised and lowered, so as to lreep the slot in the refractory piece a little lower than the level of the glass in the melting-hearth a, and

thus regulate the speed of flow of the moltenglass. In this arrangement the drawn sheet or plate of glass passes between two sheets of metal or wire-gauze 3, to which are attached asbestos millboards e, so that the metal sheet or wire-gauze and the asbestos millboards constitute praotic ally two broad belts refractory block 01.

which may be situated in a channel or be ex posed to the open air, as the asbestos millboards will prevent the sheet or plate of glass from cooling too rapidly. Small rolls 5 press the sheet or plate of glass between the ashestos millboards 4 by means of springs or counterweigur, as at 5, upon pivoted arms 5*. The upper rolls 6, over which the aforesaid bands pass, are driven by any suitable motor, (not shown in the drawings,) While the lower rolls 7 act as tension-rolls. As the apparatus is mounted on wheels, it is easy to bring it against the hearth a and to remove it for repairs or other purpose. When this ortable apparatus is removed, the opening from the hearth, through which the molten glass is taken, is closed by operating the damper c by the screw 8. Another apparatus is then brought against the damper 0 just opposite the opening b from the meltinghearth, and a p ug 9 in an opening from the furnace of the portable apparatus is removed to allow some of the furnace-heat to heat the damper c and melt any glass that has become solidified between the damper c and the As soon as the damper c is hot it is lowered by operatihg its screw 8 so as to bring the passage through the damper 0 in register with that through the block d of refractory material and that from the hearth, and then molten glass flows into and lills ,the reservoir Z of the portable apparatus, and the forming of a plate or sheet of glass can be elfected in the manner hereinbefore described.

The velocit of the passage of the glass through the s ot in the refractory material above the reservoir can be regulatedby operating the screw-jacks g at the base of the aparatus so as to raise or lower the ap aratus.

he furnace f at the lower part of t able ap aratus allows the fluidity o the glass to e regulated and the base of the annealing apparatus, if used, to be heated, besides heating the dam or so as to melt any less adhering to it and the hearth whenever it is wished to shift the whole apparatus.

It is obvious that in this ap aratus asbestos rolls could be used instea of the endless belt 3 coated with asbestos.

Havin thus described and ascertained the nature 0 my invention and in what manner what I claim is- 1. In an apparatus for upward y drawing ortthe same may be performed, I declare that voir movable vertically and horizontally and,

fed from said furnace, the said reservoir being heated by means independent of the furna'ceand provided at its upper part with an elongated slot, and means for drawing u the continuous sheet of glass, substantial y as described.

2. In an ap aratus for upwardly drawing a continuous s eet of glass, the combination with a glass-melting furnace having a feedingaperture with controlling means, of a reservoir movable vertically and horizontally and fed from said furnace, the said reservoir being heated by means ind ependent of the furmace and provided at its upper part with an elongated slot, two endless belts or carriers consisting of metallic wire-gauze coated with asbestos, two pairs of rotary rolls situated at the foot and u per part of the apparatus and over which t is endless belts are trained, drawin -rolls, and means,,lor automatically control ing the drawin -rolls for bringing them nearer to one anot er and causing the endless belts to be pressed against the drawn sheet of glass, substantially as described.-

3. In an apparatus for upwardly drawing a continuous sheet of glass, the combination with a glass-melting furnace having a feedingaperture with controlling means, of a reservoir movable vertically and horizontally and fed from said furnace, the said reservoir being heated by means'independent of the furnace and provided at its upper part with an elongated slot, endless belts consisting of InetallicTwire-gauze coated with asbestos,

two pairs of rolls situated at the foot and upper part ofthe apparatus and having the be ts trained thereover, and a plurality of rolls operating to press the belts against the continuous sheet of-glass, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand 1n presence of two subscrib ng Wltnesses.

EMILE FOURCAULTQ Witnesses: l

AUeUs'rE Have, L cIEN QUINEL. 

